Bulgarian wrestler Kotooshu, assured of promotion to sumo's second-highest rank of ozeki, said Monday he is happy to have turned in a convincing performance in a pressure-packed situation at the Kyushu Grand Sumo Tournament.
Bulgarian sumo wrestler Kotooshu (center), who has been assured
of promotion to ozeki, poses with Miyabiyama (left) and Tochinohana after
winning the Outstanding Performance Prize at the conclusion of the Kyushu
Grand Sumo Tournament on Sunday at Fukuoka Kokusai Center.
"It was a very long 15 days," Kotooshu said a day after finishing the tournament with an 11-4 record, which was convincing enough for sumo officials to make him the first European-born ozeki.
"I'm glad I was able to produce such a good result in the final tournament for stablemaster Sadogatake," Kotooshu said, referring to his mentor who reached the retirement age of 65 during the 15-day meet at Fukuoka Kokusai Center.